Mayor Issues Order Delegating Authority for Settling Civil Lawsuits

ByDouglas C. Melcher

On March 7, 2013, the Mayor of the District of Columbia issued an order that, inter alia, delegates to the Chief Risk Officer of the District of Columbia (“CRO”) limited authority to settle certain pre-litigation civil claims against the District of Columbia. Mayor’s Order 2013-054. Specifically, the order states that “[t]he CRO may, in his or her sole discretion, settle pre-litigation claims in an amount up to and including three hundred thousand dollars and zero cents ($300,000.00), and after consultation with the Attorney General, or his or her designee, settle pre-litigation claims in an amount up to and including five hundred thousand dollars and zero cents ($500,000.00).” Id. at 2. The order defines “pre-litigation claims” against the District of Columbia as “any claim against the District, not the subject of civil or administrative litigation, whenever the claim arises out of the alleged negligence or wrongful act, either of commission or omission, of any officer or employee of the District for whose alleged negligence or acts the District, if a private individual, would be liable prima facie to respond in damages, irrespective of whether such alleged negligence occurred or such acts were done in the performance of a municipal or governmental function of said District.”  Id. at 1.

Douglas C. Melcher

I am a licensed attorney with about twenty years of experience in the private practice of law. I focus my practice on advising and representing individuals, small businesses, and non-profits in civil litigation, including trial court proceedings, appeals, administrative hearings, mediation, and arbitration. I have written numerous articles for D.C. Law Blog and other publications, and am the author of Tort Claims and Defenses in the District of Columbia, which is a handbook for lawyers about civil claims for injury to persons, property, reputation, and commercial interests. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to inquire about assistance with a legal matter. I can be reached at dmelcher@melcherlaw.com or 202-427-5753. For further information about my background, click here.